We are 6 people (3 couples) and are planning 9 days in Puglia/Matera as follows:

After 3 days in Rome, train to Bari and then train or bus to Monopoli to start this portion of our trip

3 nights in Monopoli from where we will do daytrips to Albarobello and Locorotondo

Rent car to drive from Monopoli to Otranto

2 nights in Otranto

Rental car to Gallipoli

2 nights Gallipoli

Rental car to Matera

2 nights Matera

Continuing our trip into Calabria and then Sicily and then back to Rome via plane from Catania.

Please comment on feasibility of the Puglia/Matera portion of our trip and suggest additional stops that could be incorporated. All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

No time for Lecce?

Your availability of cars (mainstream agencies, range of vehicles incl automatics etc.) is likely to be better in Bari than Monopoli. I would pickup the rental in Bari when leaving, also eases the rest of your itinerary. We also enjoyed Polignano, Lecce and Ostuni in a longer Puglia focused trip.

Calabria could easily consume upto a week, and Sicily a fortnight, so I do hope you have the time to cover all of this on a single holiday. Enjoy your trip.